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Continental Congress Meet
- All colonies but Georgia have representatives
- Voted to send a "statement of grievances" to Parliament and the King.
- Voted to Boycott all British trade.
- Patrick Henry- VA. rep. urged colonists to unite together against Great Britain.
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1,000 Red Coats in Boston
General Gage leads 1,000 British Soldiers into Boston with more on the way. -
Midnight Ride of Paul Revere
Paul Revere rides to warn the Sons of Liberty in Lexington and Concord that the "British are coming... The British are coming.." -
Battles of Lexington & Concord
Battle of Lexington
- 1st battle of American Revolutionary War
- "shot heard round the world" -Ralph Waldo Emerson
- British Victory
Battle of Concord
- Americans Stop British and force them to retreat back to Boston.
- American Victory -
Capture of Fort Ticonderoga
- Benedict Arnold & Ethan Allen capture the fort.
- Get all supplies in the fort including cannons.
- American Victory
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Second Continental Congress Meet
- Print $$$$
- Set up post office
- Created Continental Army led by George Washington
- Sent Olive Branch asking King to protect their rights
- King Hires 30,000 Hessian's Soldiers in response
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Battle of Bunker Hill
- Fought on Breed's Hill
- "Don't Fire until you see the whites of their eyes" - William Prescott
- British Victory (Americans ran out of ammunition) British learn defeating Americans would NOT be easy.
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Washington Arrives on Outskirts of Boston with Continental troops
- Realizes men are disorganized & need discipline
- Need weapons
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"Common Sense" published by Thomas Paine
- Pamphlet inspires more colonists to become patriots
- "Every thing that is right or reasonable pleads for separation. The blood of the slain, the weeping voice of nature cries, 'TIS TIME TO PART" -Thomas Paine, Common Sense
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British Surrender Boston
- Washington believes his army is ready & weapons arrive
- Washington puts cannons on Dorchester Heights overlooking Boston
- British retreat - American Victory
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Second Continental Congress Meet again
- Debate on declaring independence
- Thomas Jefferson is the primary author of the document
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Second Continental Congress votes for Independence
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The declaration of Independence is signed!